Chapter 184 Pity
"Xue Fangfei."

He paused slightly while pouring the tea and looked at Jiang Li. Jiang Li responded calmly. She answered so readily because she had no other excuses. Otherwise, how to explain that Princess Yongning called her "Xue Fangfei" in the prison?
Jiang Li thought that Ji Heng actually had the answer in her heart. She paid too much attention to the Xue family and was familiar with Tongxiang, Xiangyang. There were also all the unreasonable things that happened to Miss Jiang Er, but if she was Xue Fangfei, everything would become reasonable. Ji Heng couldn't have thought of this, and deceiving Ji Heng was also irrational, because he was very sober and would not be deceived by anyone.

So her efforts were not in vain.

Ji Heng continued to pour tea. The clear tea in the snow-white teacup showed a spring color. He asked, "Where is Miss Jiang Er?"

Jiang Li said: "I am Miss Jiang Er."

This time, Ji Heng smiled and asked, "What do you mean?"

"My name is Xue Fangfei, also known as the Second Miss Jiang. After I was strangled to death by Princess Yongning's servant at the Shen family, the first thing I saw when I woke up was Qingcheng Mountain. People around me told me that I was the Second Miss Jiang, and then I learned that I was the daughter of the Prime Minister of Yanjing, and I was sent to Qingcheng Mountain for killing my mother and brother."

Ji Heng raised an eyebrow: "So, you didn't change your appearance?"

Jiang Li smiled slightly: "This may be difficult. If you don't believe it, the Duke can have someone come to check, and Miss Jiuyue can prove it."

Her face was white and lovely under the light, her skin was so smooth that it looked like she was pretending. If someone pinched a face like this, they would probably feel sorry for it.

"You want to say, this is a story of supernatural powers?"

Jiang Li lowered her head and said softly, "I have already reminded the Duke that if I tell you, the Duke may not believe me and think I am lying."

After a moment of silence, Ji Heng's voice rang out. He said without comment, "I don't think you are lying."

Jiang Li raised her head, he was still smiling, Jiang Li couldn't help but ask: "My Lord, don't you think what I said is ridiculous?"

Even Jiang Li herself, when she was in Qingcheng Mountain, always asked herself whether her rebirth was an illusion. The so-called life of Xue Fangfei was just a dream that was too real for her. If she hadn't returned to Yanjing City and confirmed that there were indeed Shen Yurong and Xue Fangfei in Yanjing City, she would probably often fall into doubt and confusion. Who can believe that a dead person will wake up one day and become another person?
She didn't even dare to think about whether Xue Huaiyuan would believe her or think she was talking nonsense even if she told him that she was Xue Fangfei.

"It may be absurd, but many truths in the world are absurd in themselves." Ji Heng said casually.

He was not surprised by this, nor did he look at Jiang Li with strange eyes. His attitude towards Jiang Li was almost the same as before.

"So after you became Jiang Li, you went straight to Shen Yurong and Princess Yongning to seek revenge and fight to the death?"

Jiang Li smiled bitterly: "What else can I do? What happened in the past has already happened, and I can't let the Xue family suffer in vain. Since God has given me another way to live, I will naturally take revenge."

Ji Heng nodded: "That makes sense."

"What about the Duke?" Jiang Li couldn't help asking, "After knowing this, won't he think that I'm an ominous person and very scary?"

"An unlucky person?" Ji Heng raised his eyebrows, as if he found her words very interesting. He said, "You died once and still came back to life. You are a blessed person. A truly unlucky person doesn't even have a chance to be reborn."

Jiang Li was stunned when she heard this. She felt that Ji Heng seemed to be talking about someone else. She was silent for a moment and said, "The Duke has already known the truth. I did all this because I am Xue Fangfei. I have to do this. If the Duke thinks that I am telling the truth, can you not pursue the agreement between us?"

Ji Heng glanced at her with a half-smile: "Are you trying to burn the bridge after crossing it and not repay the favor?"

Jiang Li was embarrassed. She really hadn't done a good job in this matter. Ji Heng had helped her so many times, but she just told him the truth and wanted to go her own way, as if she was an ungrateful person.

"If there is anything I can do to help, I will certainly do my best to repay you." Jiang Li said seriously.

"You have said this many times," Ji Heng waved her hand, "but it's useless."

"Not necessarily." Jiang Li smiled, "If Prince Xia returns to the capital, perhaps the Jiang family can also contribute to the Duke's plan."

Ji Heng's smile gradually faded, and she turned to look at Jiang Li, "Second Miss Jiang, do you know what you are talking about?"

"Prince Cheng will start a rebellion soon. The two generals in Yanjing are now guarding the border, and the troops are disconnected. General Zhaode will definitely return to the capital to rescue them." Jiang Li said, "Duke, isn't this the moment for you?"

She thought about it and felt that Ji Heng did all this, including the previous stable situation, and then took the initiative to break it, forcing King Cheng to start the rebellion in advance, just to bring out this Xia Jun Wang. But General Ji's secrecy about Xia Jun Wang made Jiang Li think that there must be something wrong.

Ji Heng laughed softly, and he looked at Jiang Li: "I heard that Xue Fangfei is kind-hearted and smart. I didn't believe it at first, but now it seems to be true."

There was undisguised admiration in his eyes. Jiang Li smiled, "I know. The Duke used to think I was a wooden beauty."

"Xue Fangfei is certainly not a wooden beauty, but Shen Yurong turned her into a wooden beauty." Ji Heng smiled faintly: "So Shen Yurong's ability only stops there, and he has no vision."

"I don't think so. He just had a long-term vision, so he fell." Jiang Li no longer had any entanglement or unwillingness when she talked about Shen Yurong. Strangely, after she became Jiang Li, her feelings for Shen Yurong slowly faded away on the road of revenge. To her, Shen Yurong was just an unnecessary passerby in her life. If she left, she would be gone. It would be best if she never came back. "You don't hate him anymore?" Ji Heng asked.

"What about hatred? What about love? This is the most he can pay back to me. He has to pay with his life. There is no more to give." Jiang Li said.

Ji Heng said, "That makes sense." He held the teacup in his hand and asked, "Would you like a drink?"

Jiang Li smiled, and she also raised the teacup, using tea instead of wine. The rain outside was falling continuously. The spring rain was like wine, and love was like wine. The two teacups touched in the air, making a crisp sound.

She raised her head and drank the tea in one gulp, as if she wanted to drink up all the bitterness that belonged to Xue Fangfei. Ji Heng drank it slowly, with an elegant posture, as if it was really nectar.

"The previous agreement is void," Ji Heng's voice was lazy and faint, like an intoxicating spring breeze at night, reaching Jiang Li's ears. He said, "From now on, Miss Jiang Er, you are free."

Jiang Li knew what he meant. The Xue family case was over. From now on, Xue Fangfei's past was completely over. She would become the real Second Miss Jiang and continue to live in this world. And the play was completely over. As a spectator, Ji Heng would naturally not stay where she was. Their previous relationship might end here.

A slight sense of disappointment flashed through Jiang Li's heart. Although she was wary of Ji Heng at the beginning and treated him or her with caution, in fact, she had a certain degree of trust in Ji Heng. In some ways, after she came to Yanjing City, her trust in the Jiang family seemed to be less than her trust in Ji Heng. This was based on her recognition of Ji Heng's strength and his character.

When a person becomes strong enough, he will not bother to use tricks. Ji Heng does not need to use these.

It's like being with a friend, sailing through the stormy seas together, and when we part halfway, we always feel inexplicably sad.

Jiang Li looked at him and said, "Your Excellency, the Duke has taken good care of me during this period. Thank you very much."

Ji Heng smiled and said, "You're welcome. Your acting is good."

Jiang Li also laughed.

When she left Ji Heng's study, Ji Heng did not stand up to see her off. Jiang Li walked to the door, the rain had not stopped yet, Bai Xue held up the umbrella, Jiang Li looked back at the room, Ji Heng was sitting at the desk, his back under the light, showing a kind of amazing loneliness.

She turned her head and walked into the rain.

Zhao Ke saw them off. Before leaving, Jiang Li saw Situ Jiuyue hurriedly walking through the yard. She was probably very busy and didn't see Jiang Li and the others. Jiang Li asked Zhao Ke, "What is Miss Jiuyue doing?"

"There's a patient in the mansion recently," Zhao Ke said, "Miss Situ is treating him."

The patient that Situ Jiuyue could treat must not be an ordinary patient. There were many secrets in the Duke's Mansion, and Jiang Li was not in a position to ask more. So she left without looking back.

Situ Jiuyue hurried back to the room. The boy named A Zhao was lying on the bed. He couldn't get out of bed yet, so Situ Jiuyue had to give him acupuncture every day. The only person he could see every day, apart from the servant who brought him food and took care of him, was Situ Jiuyue.

Over time, he and Situ Jiuyue got to know each other, and Situ Jiuyue was willing to talk to the boy. The boy's voice gradually lost its hoarseness, revealing its original tone, which was as bright and sunny as his appearance.

"Doctor Situ," Ah Zhao asked, "I just heard someone talking outside. Who is it?"

"Is there?" Situ Jiuyue frowned and said, "I didn't notice it. It might be Ji Heng's guest. Don't move. I'll give you acupuncture."

On the other side, Wen Ji walked into the study. Ji Heng was still sitting and looking out the window. The window had been opened, and the wind made the lights shaky and the shadows staggered. Fine raindrops floated onto the table, some splashed into the teacup, creating fine ripples like a flower blooming.

"Sir, Miss Jiang Er has left." Wen Ji said.

Ji Heng hummed, then looked away.

He lowered his eyes and looked across. There was no one sitting on the stool opposite. Only her remaining teacup reminded him of who had been there.

From Xue Fangfei to Miss Jiang Er, it was an incredible experience, but it seemed that only this could explain everything. It was rare that after dying once, she still had such clear eyes and could still trust someone so innocently and sincerely.

Is it stupid or precious?

When he pressed the fan handle against her throat, he felt a little reluctant and compassionate in his moment of tenderness. This frightened him and made him examine himself, forcing him to draw a line between himself and her and stop having any contact with her.

People who watch a play must not get into the play. If they do, they will lose their sense of proportion and clarity, and get caught up in the joys and sorrows of the play. That is the most terrifying thing.

He can't have any weaknesses.

(End of this chapter)